Points North Family Health Team/Machin Medical Group
87 Spruce Street Box 250 P0V 2V0 Vermilion Bay, ON, Canada

As you may know, the first vaccines are being prioritized to higher-risk people and healthcare workers. But we look forward to when you all will have access to the vaccine. We do not yet know the place or the timing and we will communicate this when we do. For more information on vaccines, please visit... https://www.nwhu.on.ca/covid19/Pages/covid-19-vaccines https://covid-19.ontario.ca/ https://www.canada.ca//d/coronavirus-disease-covid-19.html ***** The clinic remains open to you for your health care needs, by phone or in person. We thank you for your understanding as we continue to provide your health care in these different ways. Thank you all for what you have done to keep yourselves, your loved ones, and our communities safe. Thank you to those frontline workers who have faced fears and yet continued to provide the services that we have needed to function. We look forward to when the vaccine allows us to return to a life that is more connected. In the meantime Wear a mask, keep your distance, wash your hands. AND be calm, be safe, be kind.

The clinic will be opened Wednesday Dec 30 for acute care. please look online to book a PHONE appointment for the morning https://www.pointsnorthfht.com/book-online

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from all the staff of Machin Medical Clinic/Points North Family Health Team Dr. Yvon Gagnon, Eileen, Elaine, Jessica, Nicole, Stephanie, Jennifer and Mary... May the Christmas season fill your home with joy and laughter and may the year ahead be full of good health and joy. We will be CLOSED December 24th, 25th, 28th, 29th, 31st 2020 and January 1st 2021 OPEN December 30th 2020 for urgent care We will resume regular hours of operation on January 4th,2021 As we move into the holiday season and winter, it is imperative that everyone remains focused on containing the spread of COVID-19 and stays diligent in avoiding gatherings, practicing physical distancing, good hand hygiene, appropriate cough and sneeze etiquette, and wearing masks. We know this year has been a difficult time for everyone and as your health care providers; we appreciate you continuing to take all these necessary precautions to help keep our community safe. From all of us we THANK YOU!

We took some time from our busy schedules to have some team development and fun. Thanks Tracy at Bayview for hosting us and Erin at Sparkling Dahlia for being a great & patient teacher and helping us make our beautiful signs!

Hello residents of Machin and surrounding areas. I worked at the Points North Family Health Team for about 4 days before COVID hit us all and I had to begin wor...king from home. My name is Mary. I am a Registered Social Worker and the newest edition to the Points North Family Health Team family. I moved to Dryden 3 years ago with my husband and 3 children, 2 girls and a boy (ages 3, 9, 11). We also have an Australian Shepherd named Angus who frequents Facebook with the caption does this dog belong to anyone as he likes to chase deer and end up in other neighborhoods. We moved here for my husband’s work at the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry as a Fire Science and Planning Specialist. We were both raised in Sault Ste. Marie, however have lived in various places: Thunder Bay, Geraldton, Chapleau. I have a background as a Registered Nurse, but always found when I was hanging blood for people or dressing a wound, I best served them listening. (I can juggle many emotions, but not many tasks, my kids are improving me in that area.) Being from Sault Ste. Marie, I miss the maples and oaks and the rocky shores of Superior, but I have been settling into Sunset Country. I really do appreciate the number of sunshine days! Moving here, my family brought along with us our love for skiing/snowboarding, growing garlic, and we head back home to Sault Ste Marie every spring to make maple syrup with good friends on St. Joseph Island. With absolutely no connections here, my sense of exploring is serving me well. Many a back road has been travelled just to see where it leads or what I might discover. I’m always in search of a new great swimming hole. It would be amiss on my part to not recognize the COVID context I introduce myself in. For all of us our worlds have become smaller in some way. I know for my family, with no family around to pop in on us or for us to pop in on, the walls of our home are getting old. I keep threatening to knock a few down; the engineer gave me the go ahead. Thankfully we have made a few good friends who have welcomed us into their family and it appears family often means generations strong around here! With the second wave among us, I encourage us all to remember we came through the first one; we will make it through the next. And we actually have some choice on how we do so. We could sit back and let an empty calendar discourage us, leave us wondering when the winter months will ever end. Or we can accept that we are in this for a bit and ask the question, what CAN we do? And then grab COVID by the curve. Instead of letting it set our agenda, we’ll set the agenda! So, here’s my idea. Since this will come out to you for December, the 12 days of Christmas is out. So, I am proposing. THE 12 WEEKS of COVID. I find that time flies when there are things to fill it. I would like to have something on my calendar each week to keep me going during the 12 weeks of January through March. Since a ski trip to the Rockies is out and I don’t know this area, I need your help. I am asking for suggestions of places to visit, sights to see, pretty drives to take, local things to do, historical landmarks, anything you think might be interesting or that you take pride in as a local. Please send by Dec 20th by email with subject line Exploring MACHIN AND AREA ([email protected]) PLEASE NOTE: this email cannot be used for booking appointments, asking medical questions, or to request to speak with any of the staff. Then, in the January newsletter I will post the list and challenge you all to fill in your calendars tooor at least check out a few. Maybe there will be one you haven’t visited since your kids were small, one you’ve never even been to or maybe even one you never knew about! A change of scenery, some fresh air, a phone call to a special person and a good laugh watching Golden Girls reruns really truly makes a difference. Believe me; I’m learning that lesson myself. Merry Christmas to you all. And I hope you serve Christmas this year with just a small side of COVID. May the lights be even gaudier this year. May you have already decorated before Dec 1 just because. And if celebrations and decorations aren’t your thing, maybe this year of all years, change the rule. After all you made it, you can change it. We all need a game changer of a year! Cheers to 2021 and spending time in Machin and surrounding area!

Last week to get tickets

While there are new cases of COVID-19 reported in Dryden/Red Lake and across our region, there are currently no individuals with COVID-19 admitted to our hospit...al. Over the last 8+ months, our staff has worked tirelessly to plan for the safe and effective care of all patients and staff. We are well-prepared to provide quality care in the event that anyone is admitted to the hospital with COVID-19. Urgent care at our Hospital will always be available to those that need it, and it is safe to attend our Emergency Department to access care. Our hospital has a tiered pandemic plan that is frequently reviewed by our COVID-19 Incident Management Teams. This plan helps us to determine how to respond to COVID-19 to protect the health and safety of our patients, our staff and our community. As a community member, you can help us. You owe it to yourself, to the community and to the healthcare providers who put themselves at risk every day to respect and follow the public health guidelines. Stay 6 ft apart from others/maintain physical distancing Avoid gatherings with people that don’t normally live in your home Wear a mask Wash your hands frequently Stay home when you are feeling ill Don’t get complacent. While COVID-19 confirmed cases for our community and region have been low, remember that the virus is very contagious and doesn’t stay in any one area for long or limit infection to any one age group for long.

We are currently out of flu shots we are hoping to get more soon and will keep you updated please keep checking in with us. We are trying to do as many in your vehicle as possible depending on weather. We are trying to keep you and us safe!!

The The Ontario Caregiver Organization is working alongside the developmental services sector to better understand the needs of caregivers who support a family,... friend or neighbour with a developmental disability. The Ontario Caregiver Helpline can connect caregivers to the services they need through a live answer service 24/7 by phone and through online chat Monday to Friday 7am-9pm. The OCO is hosting one interactive online focus group aimed at understanding how the OCO helpline can best support caregivers caring for people with a developmental disability. This focus group is scheduled on Thursday October 29, 2020 - 5:30 to 6:30 PM EST. Deadline to submit interest: Monday October 26, 2020 To register: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/PLWTG87

PLEASE SHARE!!!

On behalf of the Centre for Education and Research on Aging & Health (CERAH), please find below the link to the latest edition of the Caring Connections Chronicle. https://cerah.lakeheadu.ca//CC%20Newsletter%20Nov%202020.p

STRATEGIC PLAN SURVEY We are developing a Strategic Plan for the Points North Family Health Team and are looking for YOUR feedback! We hope you will take a few minutes to complete our online survey, available on the home page of our website at: https://www.pointsnorthfht.com The survey will be open through Sunday, November 22nd. ... We appreciate you taking the time to share your feedback! If you have any questions about this, please feel free to contact Jennifer Loewen at 807-227-2675. See more

Just a reminder to please compete our survey. We appreciate your feedback from all community members! Thank You STRATEGIC PLAN SURVEY... We are developing a Strategic Plan for the Points North Family Health Team and are looking for YOUR feedback! We hope you will take a few minutes to complete our online survey, available on the home page of our website at: https://www.pointsnorthfht.com The survey will be open through Sunday, November 22nd. We appreciate you taking the time to share your feedback! If you have any questions about this, please feel free to contact Jennifer Loewen at 807-227-2675.

What a great idea!

Change is hard. And it seems like things are changing on the daily right now! If you are looking for COVID-19 resources, rest assured that we stay up to date w...ith current information and public health advice. From masks to gathering limits, from screening to travel, we have it all for you. Check out the resource page on our website. http://ow.ly/4vke50BNn0C

The health and safety of all staff, professional staff, patients, care partners and the community is our utmost priority. In response to the rise in COVID-19 ca...ses in Ontario, travel restrictions will be reinstated at our Hospital. Effective Tuesday, October 6th, travel outside of Northern Ontario (Parry Sound to the Manitoba border) in the past seven days will result in a failed entrance screening. These travel restrictions apply to staff, professional staff, patients who require non-urgent care, volunteers, learners, Care Partners and Essential Care Partners and are in line with the recommendations of the Thunder Bay District Health Unit for the protection of our community. We understand that travel restrictions can be difficult, especially for those who are separated from friends and family. However, Ontario has entered the second wave of the #COVID19 pandemic and we must be extra vigilant for the protection of all, including the most vulnerable patients in our care, said Dr. Stewart Kennedy, COVID-19 Incident Manager. Travel restrictions in the first wave were integral to limiting the impact of COVID-19 in our community and Hospital. Your continued understanding and cooperation is highly appreciated. Patients with Care Partners or Essential Care Partners who have travelled outside of Northern Ontario in the past seven days will be permitted to identify an alternate. Our Hospital is committed to helping patients and families stay connected and offers virtual visits through FaceTime and Skype. If you would like to arrange a virtual care visit with a patient admitted to our Hospital, please contact the Telemedicine Department at Tel. (807) 684-6711 or email [email protected] between the hours of 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday to Friday. Travel restrictions can change frequently and will be updated as the situation evolves.

Enbridge Gas has given a Community Investment Grant to the Machin Volunteer Fire and First Response Department to help beat the silent killer of carbon monoxide... poisoning in our community. The Community Investment Grant has allowed the fire department to purchase carbon monoxide alarms for residents of Machin and of the surrounding communities that Machin Fire serves. Department members will be handing out carbon monoxide alarms on the following dates: Vermilion Bay fire hall November 13th, 5:30pm-7:30pm and November 15th, 11:00am-1:00pm Eagle River fire hall November 14th, 11:00am-1:00pm and November 16th, 5:30pm-7:30pm Due to COVID-19 restrictions, please stay in your vehicle and we will bring an alarm to you. See more

We are booking Flu shots, please call the clinic to book 227-2675

Flu shots are back in stock. Please call to book your appointment.Flu shots are back in stock. Please call to book your appointment.

A cute reminder

Are you pregnant? Did you know that we offer free online prenatal education courses? Learn about pregnancy, delivery, infant care, breastfeeding, and more - at your own pace and at home! For more information and to register please call 1-800-468-4377 or email [email protected].

Points North Family Health Team #Orange Shirt Day #Every Child Matters

The Points North Family Health Team/ Machin Medical Clinic Will be CLOSED Thursday October 1st & Friday October 2nd. This is due to upgrades to our computer systems. we apologize for any inconvenience.

Dryden Regional Health Centre supports the Provincial government’s decision to limit COVID-19 testing at assessment centres to those experiencing symptoms, vuln...erable populations, and contacts of known cases. Effective today, the DRHC COVID-19 Assessment Centre is implementing the guidelines set forth by Ontario Health. Only those individuals in priority groups such as health care workers, visitors and staff of LTC, residents and staff of congregate living settings such as shelters, Public Health Unit identified close contacts of a confirmed case, and for those identified as contacts of an outbreak site will be accepted for asymptomatic testing. This also includes those identified as a close contact by the Health Canada COVID app. Those who contact the Assessment Centre but do not have any symptoms, no known contact with an identified case and are not part of a high risk group such as health care workers, education workers or first responders, will be turned away in order to prioritize testing for those who meet the testing criteria. Additionally, the hospital’s Emergency Department will not perform COVID-19 swabs for patients unless they require admission to hospital for respiratory or other illnesses indicating the need for COVID-19 testing. As such, community members are asked not to attend the Emergency Department as a testing alternative to the Assessment Centre. Individuals who need to schedule a COVID-19 test due to symptoms or exposure (as determined by the Northwestern Health Unit) may call the Assessment Centre at 807-223-3737. If you’re worried you were exposed to COVID-19 or have symptoms of COVID-19, visit the Ontario COVID-19 website (www.covid-19.ontario.ca/self-assessment) to take the self-assessment to ensure you need the test and to learn what to do next. Visit the Northwestern Health Unit website (www.nwhu.on.ca) for information about COVID-19 and continue to follow their recommendations for physical distancing, hand hygiene, and masking.

New guidelines from the Ministry of Health today! Ontarians should only seek testing at assessment centres if they have COVID-19 symptoms, have been exposed to ...a confirmed case of the virus, or have been told to be tested by a health care provider or public health. https://news.ontario.ca//ontario-updates-covid-19-testing-

The DRHC COVID-19 Assessment Centre is currently experiencing an overwhelming increase in the volume of calls from individuals wishing to book appointments for ...COVID-19 swabbing. We are currently working to increase staffing, extend hours of availability, and source technical support to meet the demands for our community. We understand the worry and frustration regarding the COVID-19 virus and ask for your understanding and co-operation while we quickly work to enhance the Assessment Centre capacity. Please be patient. Please be kind. If you’re worried you were exposed to COVID-19 or have symptoms of COVID-19, visit the Ontario COVID-19 website (www.covid-19.ontario.ca/self-assessment) to take the self-assessment to ensure you need the test and to learn what to do next. Visit the Northwestern Health Unit website (www.nwhu.on.ca) for information about COVID-19 and continue to follow their recommendations for physical distancing, hand hygiene, and masking. Follow this link to access the COVID-19 School Screening Tool: https://covid-19.ontario.ca/school-screening/